Diversifying Diplomacy with New Northern and New Southern Directions... Ministry of Foreign Affairs Establishes Eurasia2 Division and Africa2 Division

Approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Organizational Restructuring Plan at the Cabinet Meeting on the 18th
Reinforcement of Consular Service Personnel and Establishment of a New Branch Office in Bali, Indonesia

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' amendment to its organizational regulations, which includes strengthening field personnel for the protection of overseas Koreans and establishing two new regional divisions to enhance the policy of diplomatic diversification, was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 18th. The two newly established regional divisions are Eurasia Division 2 and Africa Division 2.

On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that through this organizational amendment, it plans to reinforce the safety net by increasing personnel for the protection of overseas Koreans and consular services, enabling citizens to stay safely anywhere in the world with peace of mind.

The Ministry plans to strengthen the Overseas Safety Keeper Center personnel, which is responsible for the safety of Koreans residing abroad 24/7, and to add 28 personnel in charge of overseas Korean protection and consular services, as well as 5 consular officers to five single-person missions with poor staffing, thereby reinforcing field personnel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has steadily increased personnel for the protection of overseas Koreans and consular services over the past three years. After adding 39 personnel in 2018 and 14 in 2019, it will increase by 28 personnel in 2020.

A branch office will also be established in Bali, Indonesia, where the number of visitors has been steadily increasing. Since the Bali region is located more than 1,200 km away from Jakarta, where the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Indonesia is located, it has been difficult to provide consular assistance, but with the establishment of the branch office, consular services will be provided more promptly.

Furthermore, to further expand the diplomatic diversification policies such as the New Northern Policy and New Southern Policy, the Ministry will establish Eurasia Division 2 and Africa Division 2, and will also reinforce personnel at major Southeast Asian missions such as the Embassy in Malaysia and the Embassy in Thailand. Eurasia Division 1 will be responsible for Russia affairs, while Eurasia Division 2 will oversee the five Central Asian countries and other target countries of the New Northern Policy, contributing to strengthening diplomacy toward Russia and the full implementation of the New Northern Policy.

Africa Division 1 will cover southeastern Africa, and Africa Division 2 will cover central and western Africa, the Indian Ocean island countries of Africa, and expand cooperation with the African Union (AU), thereby conducting more in-depth African diplomacy. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "By successfully hosting last year's Korea-ASEAN Special Summit and the 1st Korea-Mekong Summit, and completing high-level reciprocal visits with all 10 ASEAN countries, we plan to sustain and expand the momentum of the strengthened New Southern Policy through reinforcing personnel at major Southeast Asian missions."